Man crashes car into tree while fleeing from police

Published: Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 08:24 PM.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A man was critically injured early Sunday morning after he crashed his car into a tree while trying to flee from the police.

Jesse A. Ricks, 30 of DeFuniak Springs, was driving north on State Road 83 about 5:50 a.m. when a police officer observed him weaving in and out of his lane, according to the DeFuniak Springs police department and the Florida Highway Patrol.

The officer pulled Ricks over for a traffic stop.

Ricks stopped his car on the shoulder, but when the officer went to get out of his patrol car, Ricks sped off northbound on SR 83.

The officer chased Ricks until he saw him pass another vehicle on a hill in a no passing zone, according to the police department. It was also raining and the officer decided to call off the chase for safety reasons.

The officer continued north and saw Ricks attempting to turn onto Juniper Lake Road.

He failed to negotiate the turn and crashed into a pine tree in the woods, the FHP reported.

Ricks was not wearing a seatbelt.

He had to be pulled from his car and was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.

The hospital did not have an update on his condition Sunday night.

The FHP reported that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The incident is still under investigation, no charges have been filed.

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DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A man was critically injured early Sunday morning after he crashed his car into a tree while trying to flee from the police.

Jesse A. Ricks, 30 of DeFuniak Springs, was driving north on State Road 83 about 5:50 a.m. when a police officer observed him weaving in and out of his lane, according to the DeFuniak Springs police department and the Florida Highway Patrol.

The officer pulled Ricks over for a traffic stop.

Ricks stopped his car on the shoulder, but when the officer went to get out of his patrol car, Ricks sped off northbound on SR 83.

The officer chased Ricks until he saw him pass another vehicle on a hill in a no passing zone, according to the police department. It was also raining and the officer decided to call off the chase for safety reasons.

The officer continued north and saw Ricks attempting to turn onto Juniper Lake Road.

He failed to negotiate the turn and crashed into a pine tree in the woods, the FHP reported.

Ricks was not wearing a seatbelt.

He had to be pulled from his car and was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola in critical condition.

The hospital did not have an update on his condition Sunday night.

The FHP reported that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The incident is still under investigation, no charges have been filed.